Europe, U.S. desperate to slow spread of virus

Virus disrupts Italy

Italians faced travel restrictions at home and abroad Tuesday as other countries isolated Italy with flight bans and quarantine measures took effect nationwide in a government bid to slow the new coronavirus’ silent spread.

Police at Rome’s main train station checked commuters’ paperwork to ensure they had legitimate reasons to leave their residential neighborhoods for work, health or other “necessary” reasons. Carabinieri teams patrolled cafes to make sure owners were keeping customers 1-meter apart.

Infections in Italy topped the 10,000 mark with 10,149 cases — more than anywhere else but China — and the number of deaths from the virus rose to 631, from 463 a day earlier, Italian Civil Protection authorities said.

Internationally, Italy’s status as the center of Europe’s coronavirus outbreak continued getting reinforced after the Italian government late Monday extended limits on movement it had imposed in northern Italy to the whole country to slow infections.

Democratic candidates cancel Ohio rallies

Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden abruptly canceled scheduled rallies Tuesday night in Cleveland amid concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus — as public health fears began transforming the 2020 race.

Sanders had been planning to speak at a convention center in Cleveland as results from six states voting in the Democratic presidential contests began rolling in. But he pulled the plug about three hours before it was scheduled to start, and his campaign announced that decisions on future events would be made on a case-by-case basis.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeW i ne declared a state of emergency after three individuals from Cuyahoga

County, which includes Cleveland, tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

First coronavirus death in New Jersey reported

A 69-year-old New Jersey man who Tuesday became the first person in the Northeast to die from the coronavirus had gone to his doctor last week complaining of a fever and a cough, officials said.

He was treated with antibiotics and Tamiflu, an antiviral medication given to alleviate flu symptoms, but did not respond.

On Friday, he was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center, the state’s health commissioner, Judith Persichilli, said at a briefing soon after learning of the man’s death.

More deaths in senior centers in Washington

Authorities in Washington state have reported two new coronavirus deaths, bringing the total there to at least 24.

A statement Tuesday from Public Health–Seattle & King County also said officials are working

with 10 long-term care facilities where residents or employees have tested positive for COVID19. The new deaths reported were a woman in her 80s, a resident of a nursing and rehabilitation center in Issaquah, Washington, who died Sunday and a man in his 80s, a resident of a Seattle senior center, who died Monday.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts as the number of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus in the state jumped by 51 to 92. Of that number, 70 are connected to a meeting held by biotech company Biogen at a downtown Boston hotel.

FDA suspends most of its inspections

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it is postponing most inspections of foreign manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, medical devices and food imported into the United States. The inspections will be suspended through April.

CLAUDIO FURLAN/LAPRESSE VIA AP An elderly patient is attended to Tuesday in an emergency structure set up to ease procedures outside a hospital in Brescia, in northern Italy. The country is the European epicenter for the coronavirus, which has claimed 631 lives in Italy.